India is hosting the first-ever World Para Athletics Grand Prix, a historic milestone in country’s para-sports journey. The event, scheduled from 11 to 13 March 2025, at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi will witness 283 para-athletes from 20 nations, providing them an opportunity to compete at an internationally recognized level.
Key Highlights
Historic Event & Participation:
- The three-day event will feature over 280 para-athletes from 20 countries, competing in more than 90 competitions.
- India’s contingent will have 145 para-athletes, including Paralympic gold medalists such as Praveen (High Jump T64), Navdeep (Javelin F41), and Dharambir (Club Throw F51).
- Notable Absences: Sumit Antil (double Paralympic champion) and Yogesh Kathuniya (double Paralympic medallist) will not be competing.
Participating Countries:
- The tournament will see representation from Saudi Arabia, Germany, Kazakhstan, Australia, Brazil, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Japan, and more.
Significance for India
Critical for Athlete Classification:
- The World Para Athletics Grand Prix is a key event for classifying para-athletes in the right sport class—a mandatory step for competing in international tournaments.
- Previously, India received only 4-5 slots for classification at international events. As hosts, India now has 58 slots, making it easier for more athletes to qualify.
- Classification began on March 8, with 120 slots being assigned to different National Paralympic Committees (NPCs).
Cost-Effective for PCI:
- The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) will save costs that were previously incurred in sending athletes abroad for classification.
India’s Rising Para-Sports Dominance:
- India won 29 medals in the 2024 Paralympics, marking a significant rise in para-athletics interest and participation.
- Boost for Indian Para-Athletics: Hosting the World Grand Prix is expected to further strengthen India’s position in global para-sports.
A Dry Run for 2025 World Para Athletics Championships:
- This event serves as a preparatory tournament for the World Para Athletics Championships, scheduled to be held in New Delhi from September 27 to October 5, 2025.
About World Para Athletics Grand Prix
The World Para Athletics Championships, previously known as the IPC Athletics World Championships before 2017, is a biennial event organized by World Para Athletics (a subcommittee of the International Paralympic Committee – IPC).
It features athletics competitions for athletes with physical disabilities, similar to the World Athletics Championships for able-bodied athletes.
First Championship: Berlin, Germany (1994).Notable Milestone: In 2017, London became the first city to host both the IAAF World Championships and World Para Athletics Championships as connected events.